Former Editor floors ThisDay, Obaigbena in court, paper ordered to pay damages
The National Industrial Court in Abuja has awarded N1 million
damages to a former Editor of THISDAY Newspaper, Paul Ibe, in his suit
against Leaders & Company Limited, publishers of THISDAY and its
Chairman/Editor-in-chief, Nduka Obaigbena.
Justice Maureen Esohe, who also granted Mr. Ibe other reliefs, delivered judgement in the suit on Wednesday.
Mr. Ibe had in July 2011 slammed a N100 million suit on THISDAY and
Mr. Obaigbena seeking, among other reliefs, payments of his pension,
outstanding entitlements, remittance of his tax as deducted by the
company and for the court to order the Economic and Financial Crime
Commission, the Press Council of Nigeria and the Federal Inland Revenue
Service to investigate the defendants.
He also asked the court to declare that the contract of employment
between him and the defendants was breached and that he was short paid
while serving as Editor, Nation’s Capital, of the newspaper.
Mr. Ibe, who joined THISDAY in 1996 as a reporter, moved to South
Africa in 1998, spending 19 months there as the Bureau Chief of the
Newspaper in that country.
He claimed the condition of service, including non provision of
accommodation, while serving the company in South Africa was unlawful.
The claim was so upheld by the court in the ruling.
In a counter claim, the defendants had accused Mr. Ibe of using the
company’s official vehicle since October 13, 2010, and charged him
N10,000 daily. The court dismissed the claim.
In her ruling, Ms Esohe held that the defendants breached the
contract of employment with the claimant, Mr. Ibe, including dismissal
without compensation, and that the procedures for declaring his office
redundant was unlawful.
The court awarded Mr. Ibe N1 million damages and ordered that his pension and outstanding arrears be paid by the defendants.
The court held that the deducted monies from the claimant’s
emoluments should be duly remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue
Service.
Also, the defendants’ reliefs, seeking N200million compensation and
apology in two national newspapers for alleged malicious publication in
two online news outfits by the claimant, were also dismissed.
In his reaction after the ruling, counsel to the plaintiff, Noble
Ifeme, said, “It is not just victory for the claimant but all employees.
It is also a message to slave drivers that the time of slave trade is
over. In our humble opinion, we are satisfied because substantially most
of our reliefs were granted.”
He added, “We intend to enforce the judgement in the event the defendants fails to comply with the order of the court.”
Also speaking, the visibly elated Mr. Ibe said the court was there
for those who are ready to submit themselves to rigorous process in the
course of seeking justice.
“If the train of the court is not derailed, you will finally get to
your destination. We went to court not because of the dollar, naira or
rand component of this case. We went to court because of the principles
that were involved. A labourer deserves his pay,” he said.
He said it is unfortunate that employers of labour, particularly
media publishers and Mr. Obaigbena will refuse to pay their employees.
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